Green School in Bali

Download as pdf or txt
Download as pdf or txt
You are on page 1of 6

Photographs: Green School Bali

Green School in Bali


Recently voted the Greenest School on Earth by the US Green Building Council,
here is a snapshot of the curriculum and some of the projects currently underway

By Ben Macrory LQWHUQDWLRQDOVFKRROVRQWKHSODQHW


$IWHUQHDUO\¿YH\HDUVRIRSHUDWLRQ*UHHQ6FKRROKDV

D
RIVING  NORTH  FROM  Bali’s  chaotic  capital  city     JDUQHUHGDWWHQWLRQDQGDFFODLPIURPDOORYHUWKHZRUOG
of  Denpasar  on  one  of  the  main  roads  heading  north     IRULWVSLRQHHULQJHIIRUWVWRLQWHUZHDYHDFDGHPLFOHDUQLQJ
WRZDUGV8EXGLW¶VGLI¿FXOWWRJHWDVHQVHRIWKHPDJLF   ZLWKHQYLURQPHQWDOO\VXVWDLQDEOHSUDFWLFHV ,QIDFWLWZDV
WKDWOLHVDKHDG2QHVWLOOJOLPSVHVULFH¿HOGVDQG+LQGXWHPSOHV recently  named  “Greenest  School  on  Earth”  by  the  U.S.  
EXWWKH%DOLRIROGLVLQFUHDVLQJO\JLYLQJZD\WRPRWRUF\FOH   Green  Building  Council,  the  organization  that  provides  
dealerships,  internet  shops  and  garishly  lit  24-­hour  mini-­ /(('FHUWL¿FDWLRQIRUHQYLURQPHQWDOO\IULHQGO\EXLOGLQJV 
PDUWVWKDWKDYHUHSODFHGWUDGLWLRQDOIDPLO\RZQHGwarung.   Green  School  boasts  one  of  the  most  beautiful  campuses  
+RZHYHUXSRQUHDFKLQJWKHYLOODJHRI6LEDQJ.DMDDQGWDNLQJ   LPDJLQDEOHZLWKH[WUDRUGLQDU\EDPERRVWUXFWXUHVULVLQJ
DWXUQGRZQDPHWHUEXPS\UXWWHGURDGDQRWKHUVLGH out  of  the  jungle,  surrounded  by  lush  organic  gardens  and  
RIWKH,VODQGRIWKH*RGVFRPHVLQWRYLHZ6WDQGLQJLQWKH bisected  by  the  Ayung  River.  Green  School  serves  an  inter-­
parking  area  overlooking  the  pristine  Ayung  River  valley,  the   national  population  of  270  students  from  55  countries  in  
¿UVWVWUXFWXUHYLVLEOHWKURXJKWKHMXQJOHIROLDJHLVDVWXQQLQJ 3UH.WKURXJK*UDGHZLWKERDUGLQJDYDLODEOHIRU*UDGHV
covered  bamboo  bridge,  built  in  a  style  reminiscent  of  the   6  and  up.  The  school  also  supports  a  scholarship  program  
0LQDQJSHRSOHRI6XPDWUDZLWKFXUYHGURRIHQGVMXWWLQJXS IRUORFDO%DOLQHVHFKLOGUHQZKRZRXOGRWKHUZLVHQRWEHDEOH
WRZDUGVWKHVN\OLNHWKHSURZRIDVKLS7RSDUDSKUDVH³7KH to  afford  the  fees;;  these  currently  represent  about  10%  of  the  
:L]DUGRI2]´'RURWK\ZH¶UHQRWLQ.XWDDQ\PRUH« population  although  through  a  fund-­raising  program  Green  
Welcome  to  Green  School  Bali,  one  of  the  most  unique   6FKRROKRSHVWRUDLVHWKLV¿JXUHWR

GREEN TEACHER 99 Page 25


Green  School  offers  a  student-­centered  curriculum   DQGLVNQRZQLQGDLO\XVHDVWKH9RUWH[,W¶VDYHU\LQQRYDWLYH
designed  to  cultivate  and  challenge  all  aspects  of  a  child’s   yet  simple  technology  invented  by  an  Austrian  engineer    
human  capacities.  It  includes  all  of  the  traditional  subjects,   QDPHG)UDQ]=RWORWHUHUZKRUHDOL]HGWKDW\RXFRXOGKDUQHVV
EXWDFDGHPLFHGXFDWLRQDW*UHHQ6FKRROFRPHVZUDSSHGLQ DUHODWLYHO\ÀDWULYHUOLNHWKH$\XQJIRUHOHFWULFLW\ZLWKRXW  
rich  layers  of  experiential,  environmental,  and  entrepreneurial   EXLOGLQJDELJLQYDVLYHGDP+LVVROXWLRQZDVWRGLJDVPDOO
learning  plus  the  creative  arts.  As  much  as  possible,  lessons   tunnel  that  diverts  a  very  small  percentage  of  the  river’s  
at  Green  School  are  taken  out  of  the  classroom  and  applied  in   ZDWHUGRZQLQWRDODUJHF\OLQGHU%RWKWKHWXQQHODQGWKHF\O-­
KDQGVRQZD\VWKDWKDYHDFRQQHFWLRQWRWKHQDWXUDOZRUOG LQGHUZHUHFDUYHGIURPORFDOO\TXDUULHGVWRQHDQGWKURXJK
The  school’s  goals  are  simple  but  ambitious:  to  provide  its  stu-­ DFRPELQDWLRQRIJUDYLW\DQGFHQWULIXJDOIRUFHWKHZDWHU
GHQWVZLWKWKHVNLOOVDQGFRQWHQWWREHHIIHFWLYHDQGVXFFHVVIXO FRPHVGRZQDQGJHWVSXVKHGLQWRDYHU\SRZHUIXOYRUWH[RU
FRPSHWLWRUVLQDQHYHUVKULQNLQJZRUOGZKLOHDWWKHVDPHWLPH ZKLUOSRROWKDWZLOOVRRQEHXVHGWRVSLQDWXUELQHWKDWVLWVLQ
expanding  their  sense  of  being  more  environmentally  respon-­ WKHPLGGOHRIWKHVWUXFWXUH ,WORRNVOLNHDELJÀXVKLQJWRL-­
VLEOHFLWL]HQVZLWKDGLIIHUHQWVHQVHRISRVVLELOLWLHVIRUKRZZH OHW 7KHZDWHUWKHQJRHVRXWDKROHLQWKHERWWRPRIWKHF\O-­
can  continue  to  develop  as  a  fragile  planet.   LQGHUDQGULJKWEDFNLQWRWKHULYHU%HWZHHQWKHVRODUSURMHFW
The  campus  has  been  designed  and  built  to  have  as  small   and  the  Vortex,  Green  School  expects  to  be  supplying  all  of  
an  impact  as  possible  on  the  environment.  Therefore,  only   LWVRZQHQHUJ\QHHGVWKURXJKFOHDQUHQHZDEOHVRXUFHVE\
DKDQGIXORIWUHHVZHUHFXWGRZQDQGPRVWRIWKRVHZHUH the  end  of  2013.
VXFFHVVIXOO\UHSODQWHGHOVHZKHUH VHYHUDOVWUXFWXUHVVWLOO Green  School  students  take  part  in  a  number  of  other  
IHDWXUHOLYHWUHHVJURZLQJWKURXJKWKHLUURRIV DQGEXLOG-­ innovative  environmental  initiatives  on-­campus,  including  
LQJVZHUHHUHFWHGDFFRUGLQJWRWKHQDWXUDOWRSRJUDSK\RI DSURMHFWLQDVVRFLDWLRQZLWKWKH%HJDZDQ)RXQGDWLRQWR
WKHODQGVRQRPRYLQJRIWKHHDUWKZDVUHTXLUHG(QYLURQ-­ breed  several  endangered  bird  species.  The  centerpiece  of  
mentally  friendly  bamboo  is  the  primary  structural  material   WKHSURMHFWDUHWKH%DOL6WDUOLQJVORYHO\ZKLWHELUGVZLWKD
XVHGEXWRWKHUORFDOQDWXUDODQGUHQHZDEOHHOHPHQWVDUH distinctive  blue  mask  around  their  eyes.  It’s  thought  that  in  
also  employed,  including  alang-­alang  thatch,  volcanic  stone,   WKHZLOGVRI%DOLWRGD\WKHUHPD\EHDVIHZDVWZHQW\DGXOWV
UDPPHGHDUWKDQGWUDGLWLRQDO%DOLQHVHPXGZDOO OHIW)DUPHUVNLOOWKHPEHFDXVHWKH\DUHVHHQDVDSHVWDQG
2SHQDLUVWUXFWXUHVDOORZIRUQDWXUDOOLJKWDQGYHQWLOD-­ they  fetch  high  prices  on  the  black  markets  of  Asia  by  col-­
tion,  and  aided  by  ceiling  fans  and  an  innovative  system  of   OHFWRUVZKROLNHWRNHHSWKHPLQFDJHV6WXGHQWVLQ*UDGH
enclosable,  air-­conditioned  bubbles,  stay  cool  even  during   learn  about  the  Bali  Starlings  in  the  classroom,  breed  meal  
WKHKRWWHVWGD\VLQWKHMXQJOH*UHHQ6FKRROJURZVPXFKRI ZRUPVWRIHHGWKHELUGVGRDUWSURMHFWVDERXWWKHPDQGWKHQ
the  food  it  consumes,  including  organic  rice,  fruit,  and  veg-­ JHWWRWDNHDPLQL¿HOGWULSZLWKLQWKHFDPSXVWRVWXG\WKHP
etables,  and  the  school  is  in  the  process  of  getting  off  the   XSFORVHDQGLQSHUVRQ:LWKLQWKHQH[WIHZPRQWKVWKH\ZLOO
JULGWKURXJKDFRPELQDWLRQRIVRODUPLFURK\GURSRZHUDQG JHWLQYROYHGLQDZLOGUHOHDVHSURMHFW3UHWW\DPD]LQJ
biogas  systems.   Starting  from  the  Kindergarten,  every  class  at  Green  
The  solar  project  consists  of  108  photo-­voltaic  panels   6FKRROKDVLWVRZQYHJJLHJDUGHQZKLFKWKHVWXGHQWVKHOS
PRXQWHGRQEDPERRSROHVDQGDUUD\HGRQDVORSHEHWZHHQ to  design  at  the  beginning  of  the  school  year.  “We  think  it’s  
the  cathedral-­like  Heart  of  School  building  (it  contains  over   LPSRUWDQWIRUNLGVWRNQRZZKHUHWKHLUIRRGFRPHVIURP
VL[NLORPHWHUVRIEDPERR DQGVHYHUDORIWKHSULPDU\FODVV-­ VRPHWKLQJPDQ\RIXVLQWKHGHYHORSHGZRUOGKDYHQRLGHD
rooms  in  a  formation  that  suggests  a  landscape  art  installa-­ about  anymore”,  says  Green  Studies  teacher  Noan  Fesnoux.  
WLRQUDWKHUWKDQDVRXUFHRIHQHUJ\WKDWDOUHDG\SRZHUVPXFK ³2XUFKLOGUHQPDNHWKHLURZQFRPSRVWXVLQJRUJDQLFZDVWH
of  the  campus.  Primary  and  middle  school  students  helped   prepare  the  ground,  plant  the  gardens,  tend  them  and  then  
design  and  build  creative  bamboo  frames  in  animal  shapes  to   ODWHUKDUYHVWDQGHDWZKDWWKH\KDYHJURZQ´/DVW\HDU¶V
KRXVHWKHSDQHOVZKLOHVWXGHQWVLQWKHKLJKVFKRRODVVLVWHG Grade  3  class  planted  a  pizza  garden  consisting  of  tomatoes,  
ZLWKWKHJUDQWZULWLQJSURSRVDOWRKHOSIXQGWKHSURMHFW basil,  peppers  and  other  veggies.  At  the  end  of  the  term  they  
The  hydro-­project  is  called  a  Gravitational  Water  Vortex   LQYLWHGWKHZKROHVFKRROWRDWWHQGDSL]]DSDUW\

Page 26 GREEN TEACHER 99


Grade  2  teachers  Mona  Dalmia  and  Yulie  
/LPZRUNHGZLWKWKHLUVWXGHQWVWKLV\HDUWR
EXLOGVRODURYHQVZKLFKWKH\XVHGWRURDVW
vegetables  from  their  garden.  For  dessert  
they  baked  chocolate  chip  cookies  using  
chocolate  the  kids  made  themselves  from  the  
school’s  200  organic  cacao  trees.
%DOLOLNHPDQ\SDUWVRI$VLDJURZVULFH
as  its  staple  crop.  But  more  than  a  food,  rice  
LVLQPDQ\ZD\VWKHFXOWXUDOEDFNERQHRIWKH
island.  Primary  students  at  Green  School  
therefore  study  the  role  of  rice  in  Balinese  art,  
mythology,  history,  and  society,  but  as  per  the  
school’s  goals,  the  learning  is  not  restricted  to  
the  classroom.  At  the  beginning  of  the  year,  
every  class  from  Grade  1  to  Grade  8  gets  
LWVRZQULFH¿HOGZKLFKVWXGHQWVSODQWWHQ
d  (including  using  recycled  materials  in  art  
FODVVWRPDNHVFDUHFURZV KDUYHVWDQGHDW
³&KDQFHVDUHWKDWYHU\IHZRIRXUVWXGHQWV
LQFOXGLQJWKH%DOLQHVHFKLOGUHQKHUHZLOO
JURZXSWREHFRPHULFHIDUPHUV´VD\V*UHHQ
Studies  teacher  Matt  Shroads.  “Our  hope  is  
WKDWWKLVSURMHFWZLOOVHUYHWRUHLQIRUFHVRPH
of  the  classroom  academic  learning,  but  also  
give  these  kids  a  sense  of  appreciation  for  the  
YHU\KDUGZRUNWKDWJRHVLQWRSODQWLQJULFH
DEHWWHULGHDRIKRZWKHIRRGWKH\HDWLVSUR-­
duced,  and  a  sense  of  closer  connection  to  the  
QDWXUDOZRUOG´
Students  in  Grade  5  participated  in  one  
of  the  year’s  most  interesting  projects  inter-­
ZHDYLQJWUDGLWLRQDODFDGHPLFOHDUQLQJZLWK
environmental  sustainability:  an  attempt  to  
calculate  the  school’s  carbon  footprint  and  
¿JXUHRXWKRZPXFKEDPERRZRXOGQHHGWR
be  planted  to  offset  that  carbon  production.  
“The  kids  had  to  go  all  around  the  school  
DQG¿QGRXWZKDWNLQGRIDSSOLDQFHVDUHEHLQJXVHGKRZ $SDUWLDOOLVWIROORZV²DOORIWKHVHWKLQJVDUHFXUUHQWO\
PDQ\RIWKHPDUHWKHUHKRZPXFKSRZHUGRWKH\FRQVXPH happening  at  Green  School  :
ZRUNLQJRQFRPPXQLFDWLRQVFKRROVLQ(QJOLVKDQG%DKDVD
‡ )LQGDQDUHDDWVFKRROWRJURZ\RXURZQYHJHWDEOHVDQG
Indonesia”,  recounts  teacher  Eva  Green.  “Then  it  became  
have  students  design  and  plant  a  garden.
a  big  maths  problem,  converting  and  calculating  to  come  
XSZLWKWRWDOXVDJH´)ROORZLQJWKLVWKHVWXGHQWVZRUNHG ‡ +HOSVWXGHQWVGHVLJQDQGFRQGXFWDQDXGLWRI\RXU
RQWKHLUSHUVXDVLYHZULWLQJDQGYLVXDODUWVNLOOVWRFRPHXS VFKRRO¶VHQHUJ\DQGZDWHUXVHORRNIRUZD\VWRUHGXFH
ZLWKDPDUNHWLQJFDPSDLJQHQFRXUDJLQJSHRSOHWRSODQW your  consumption.
EDPERRDVDZD\WRRIIVHWFDUERQSURGXFWLRQ2QHRIWKH
¿QGLQJVZDVWKDWWKHVLQJOHODUJHVWGUDLQRQHOHFWULFLW\ZDVD ‡ 'HVLJQDQGLPSOHPHQWDVFKRROZLGHUHF\FOLQJSURJUDP
slushy  machine  in  the  school’s  Green  Warung  used  to  make   ‡ &UHDWHDUWRUDUFKLWHFWXUHSURMHFWVIURPIRXQGPDWHULDOV
yummy  iced  fruit  drinks,  a  favorite  treat  on  the  campus.  “I   both  organic  and  inorganic.
ZDVUHDOO\SURXGRIP\VWXGHQWV´VD\V(YD³7KH\WRRNWKHLU
UHSRUWWRWKHVWXGHQWFRXQFLOZKRYRWHGXQDQLPRXVO\WRJHW ‡ 7DNHVWXGHQWVLQWRDQDWXUDOVHWWLQJDQGHQFRXUDJHWKHP
rid  of  the  machine  as  a  result.”  What  a  great  example  of  inte-­ WRZULWHVRQJVRUSRHPVLQVSLUHGE\WKHHQYLURQPHQW
JUDWHGOHDUQLQJDQGFRPPXQLW\DFWLRQ ‡ /HDUQDERXWORFDOÀRUDDQGIDXQDVSHFLHVDQGWDNHSDUWLQ
Green  School  is  located  in  the  middle  of  the  jungle  in   conservation  efforts  to  protect  them.
DFRXQWU\ZKHUHUHJXODWRU\IUDPHZRUNLVTXLWHORRVHDQG
PXFKRIZKDWKDSSHQVWKHUHFRXOGQRWEHHDVLO\UHSOLFDWHGLQ ‡ 7DNHSDUWLQDFOHDQXSRIDORFDOEHDFKRUSDUN
RWKHUSDUWVRIWKHZRUOGGXHWRPRUHGHPDQGLQJSK\VLFDODQG
political  climates.  But  there  are  many  things  teachers  can  do   Ben Macrory is the Head of Communications at the Green
to  incorporate  environmental  sustainability  into  their  prac-­ School in Sibang Kaja, Bali, Indonesia. For more informa-
WLFHQRPDWWHUZKHUHWKH\DUHORFDWHG tion, please go to www.greenschool.org

GREEN TEACHER 99 Page 27


Noan Fesnoux
Coconutty Classes
$SURÀOHRIDZHHNWKHPDWLFXQLWIRUJUDGHVWKDWIRFXVHVRQDWURSLFDOIUXLW
that masquerades as a nut.

By Noan Fesnoux $WKHPDWLFDSSURDFKWRVXEMHFWVLVQRWQHZEXWWKHPDWLF


lessons  at  Green  School  differ  in  that  they  attempt  to  address  

W
hen  a  picture  of  an  open  air  school  such  as  ours  is   students’  4  key  intelligences:  interpersonal,  intrapersonal,  
VKRZQWRSHRSOHPRVWGRQ¶WUHDOL]HWKDWWKHJUHDW-­ intelligence,  and  kinesthetic.    All  our  themes  pertain  to  the  
est  environmental  impact  on  the  students  occurs   QDWXUDOZRUOGDQGRXUUHODWLRQWRLW$VWKH*UHHQ6WXGLHV
LQWKHVSDFHEHWZHHQWKHEXLOGLQJV,WLVLQWKHVHMXQJOH teacher,  one  of  my  favorite  themes  to  teach  is  about  coconuts.
spaces  that  Green  Studies  is  commonly  taught.  A  mix  of   It  is  said  that  Indonesian  islands  are  all  dependent  on  the  
environmental  science,  sustainability  studies,  and  agricul-­ BBC.  No,  not  the  media  outlet,  but  bamboo,  bananas,  and  
ture,  Green  Studies  are  an  important  part  of  Green  School.   coconut.  These  three  plants  can  provide  food,  shelter,  and  
But  they  are  not  the  only  distinguishing  factor  for  this  bam-­ ZDWHUZLWKHDVHWRWKRVHOLYLQJLQWKHWURSLFV)RUH[DPSOH
boo-­based  learning  center.   the  coconut  has  dozens  of  practical  and  ritualistic  applica-­
In  2012,  Green  School  adopted  a  concept  called  the  3   WLRQVDFURVV,QGRQHVLD7KHZDWHURID\RXQJFRFRQXWLVWKH
frame  day.  This  form  of  teaching  marries  holistic  learning   FORVHVWQDWXUDOVXEVWDQFHWREORRGSODVPDWKHWURSLFDOZRUOG
ZLWKDPRUHDFDGHPLFDSSURDFKWRWHDFKLQJ7KH¿UVWSDUW ZRXOGEHYHU\GLIIHUHQWKDGWKLVZRQGHUIXOQXWQRWJUDFHG
is  the  most  unique:  the  thematic  lesson.  Then,  in  the  heart   its  shores.  
RIWKHVFKRROGD\OLHVWKHSUR¿FLHQF\EORFN7KLVLVDQDOORW-­ 7KLVZDVWKHLPSHWXVWRFUHDWHDZHHNORQJH[SORUDWRU\
PHQWRIWLPHWKDWDOORZVVWXGHQWVWRZRUNSUHGRPLQDQWO\RQ MRXUQH\RIWKHFRFRQXWWUHHDWUHHZKRVHIUXLWVPDVTXHUDGH
Mathematics,  English,  and  Languages.  Each  day  generally   as  nuts.  Planning  this  unit  took  much  foresight  and  discus-­
FRQFOXGHVZLWKH[SHULHQWLDOOHDUQLQJZKHWKHUSODQWLQJJDU-­ VLRQZLWKP\SHHUV:LWKRQO\FODVVHVWRKHOSVWXGHQWV
GHQVFUHDWLQJDUWZRUNRUZRUNLQJRQHQWHUSULVHSURMHFWV learn  as  much  about  these  fruits  as  possible,  I  thought  of  

Page 28 GREEN TEACHER 99


Green School Bali
WKHPDLQWRSLFVWKDW,ZDQWHG in  10  minutes  of  kinesthetic  
to  cover  in  each  lesson.  I  also   activity  into  every  other    
OHWP\PLQGZDQGHULQWRWKH lesson  really  helped  to  keep  
FUHDWLYHUHDOPV+RZFRXOG, the  students  on  track  and  on  
incorporate,  music,  art,  physi-­ the  ball.
cal  education,  and  personal   To  harness  the  emotional  
UHÀHFWLRQLQWRWKLVXQLW"7R intelligence  of  the  students,  
help  guide  me,  I  focused  on   VHYHUDODFWLYLWLHVZHUHSHU-­
KRZWKH%DOLQHVHXVHFRFRQXWV IRUPHG)LUVWZHVDQJ³OLPH
For  example,  they  use  coconut   in  the  coconut”  using  coconut  
fronds  to  create  offerings  to   shells  as  primitive  drums.  We  
Balinese  gods.  Why  not  have  students  create  offerings  and   WKHQXVHGWKHVKHOOVWRFUHDWHFKDUDFWHUVZKLFKZHODWHUXVHG
VLOHQWO\SOHGJHWKHVHRIIHULQJVWRDOOZHDUHWKDQNIXOIRU" in  skits  as  mannequins.  
,WRSSHGWKLVRIIZLWKVRPHZHVWHUQLQÀXHQFHGFRFRQXW 7KHPRVWFKDOOHQJLQJFRFRQXWDFWLYLWLHVWRGHYHORSZHUH
LQVSLUHGLGHDV3LQDFRODGDVZHUHRXWRIWKHTXHVWLRQFRQ-­ WKHLQWUDSHUVRQDORQHV7KHRQH,UHJXODUO\XVHGZDVWRJLYH
VLGHULQJWKHVWXGHQWVZHUHLQ*UDGHEXWVRQJVOLNH³/LPH students  coconut  -­  in  forms  such  as  toasted,  oil,  rotting,  
LQWKHFRFRQXW´ZRXOGGRMXVW¿QH KXVNHGDQGIHUPHQWHGWRVPHOODQGWRZULWHHQWULHVLQWKHLU
2QWKH¿UVWGD\RIWHDFKLQJWKHFRFRQXWXQLW,VWDUWHG MRXUQDOV:LWKVPHOOEHLQJPRVWFRQQHFWHGWRPHPRU\,ZDV
ZLWKDNLQHVWKHWLFFKDOOHQJH0D\EHLWLVWKHIUHVKDLUKHUH WDNHQDEDFNDWKRZPDQ\PHPRULHVWKHVHFXHVHYRNHGDQG
but  many  Green  School  students  thrive  in  active  and  ener-­ KRZKDSSLO\P\VWXGHQWVVKDUHGWKHPZLWKWKHFODVV
getic  activities.  I  set  up  a  crash  pad  from  the  high  jump  next   Sustainability  and  ecology  should  never  be  separated  
WRDFRFRQXWWUHHDQGKDGWKUHHÀDJVSODFHGDWGLIIHUHQW from  any  facet  of  science  and  learning  about  the  coco-­
OHYHOVLQWKHWUHH%HIRUHWRXFKLQJDFRFRQXWLQRXUXQLWZH QXWZDVQRH[FHSWLRQ7KHWKHPHRIVXVWDLQDELOLW\ZDV
QHHGHGWROHDUQKRZWRFOLPEDFRFRQXWWUHH$WKHLJKWVRI addressed  continuously  throughout  the  unit.  By  the  end,  
PHWHUV,GHFLGHGWRNHHSRXUFOLPELQJJRDOVIDLUO\ORZEXW VWXGHQWVXQGHUVWRRGKRZWKLVSODQWKDVKHOSHGWRPDLQWDLQ
the  activity  gave  the  students  the  experience  of  a  coconut  tree   ORZLPSDFWFRPPXQLWLHVWKURXJKRXWWKHWURSLFV7KH\DOVR
climber  and  helped  to  maintain  a  solid  interest  on  the  topic. learned  about  the  coconuts  many  uses,  including  as  a  build-­
7KURXJKRXWWKHZHHNVRWKHUNLQHVWKHWLFDFWLYLWLHV ing  material  and  its  importance  to  local  diets.  Finally,  stu-­
ZHUHSHUIRUPHGVXFKDVKXVNLQJDQGJUDWLQJFRFRQXWÀHVK GHQWVHYHQSURFHVVHGWKHLURZQRLODQGVRDSIURPORFDOO\
WRPDNHFRFRQXWPLONDQGFRFRQXWRLO,IRXQGWKDWZRUNLQJ harvested  coconuts.  

GREEN TEACHER 99 Page 29


'XULQJWKHXQLWVWXGHQWVZHUHH[SRVHGWRERWKVLGHVRI portrayed  critical  data  about  coconuts  in  a  presentable  and  
LVVXHVDVVRFLDWHGZLWKFRFRQXWVWKXVHQVXULQJWKH\KDGD readable  format.  
ZHOOURXQGHGXQGHUVWDQGLQJRIWKHSODQW)RUH[DPSOHWKH\ 7KUHHZHHNVZHQWE\LQDÀDVKDQG,ZDV\HDUQLQJIRU
OHDUQHGRILVODQGVZKHUHFRFRQXWVKDGGLVUXSWHGQDWXUDO PRUHWLPHWRWHDFKDERXWFRFRQXWV,ZRXOGKDYHORYHGWR
HFRV\VWHPZKLOHRQRWKHUVFRFRQXWVKDGEHHQODXGHGDVDQ H[SORUHWKHSURGXFWLRQRIELRGLHVHOXVLQJUDZPDWHULDOVWKH
important  energy  solution.   VWXGHQWVSOXFNHGIURPWKHWUHHV,QIXWXUH,ZRXOGDOVROLNH
My  evaluation  of  the  students  occurred  largely  in-­class   WRSURYLGHVWXGHQWVZLWKWKHKLJKURSHVFKDOOHQJHRIFOLPE-­
DQGZDVIRFXVHGRQKRZHQJDJHGZHUHWKHVWXGHQWVDQGKRZ ing  a  coconut  tree.  
ZHOOWKH\ZRUNHGZLWKWKHLUSHHUV+RZHYHUWRFRPSOHWHP\ With  a  thoroughly  enjoyable  format,  these  lessons  have  
evaluation,  I  had  each  student  hand  in  some  projects.  One   since  been  replicated  for  many  other  themes  that  are  taught  
VXFKSURMHFWZDVDSRVWHUGHVFULELQJWKHYLUWXHVRIFRFR-­ at  several  grade  levels.  
QXWV7KHLQVWUXFWLRQVZHUHGLIIHUHQWLDWHGDOORZLQJDVLPSOH
LQIRUPDWLRQDOSRVWHUWREHKDQGHGLQZKLOHRWKHUVWXGHQWV Noan Fesnoux is a Green Studies teacher at the Green
ZRUNHGH[WHQVLYHO\RQGLJLWDOO\FUHDWHGLQIRJUDSKLFV7KHVH School located near Sibang Kaja, Bali, Indonesia.

Thank You!
To our Friends!
Carol Fern Culhane, PA David Love, ON
Amy Demarest, VT Pam Meier, TX
Meredith Garner, CA Lois Nixon, NC
Lauren Johnson, GA Doug Pankratz, MB
Sharon Lehman, AUS Scott Slocombe, ON
Grant Linney, ON Ashley Tupper, MB

To our Supporters!
Our generous supporters pay a little extra for
their subscriptions to help sustain Green Teacher.
Why not join the list?
Therese Baribeau, QC Ruth Roperti, PA
Elizabeth Burke, VA Teresa Root, MN
John Dooley, VA Connie Russell, ON
Garry Enns, NU Scott Slocombe, ON
Gordon Harrison, ON Helen Verbanz, NS
Sheila B Jones, NC Dawn Watson, BC
Susan Kiil, ON Ursula Winkler, AB
Dr. Rosalyn McKeown, TN

Page 30 GREEN TEACHER 99

You might also like